Key Developments

Secretary of State Tillerson to Offer Condolences in London for Manchester Attack

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will travel to London on Friday to offer condolences for this week's terrorist attack on a concert in Manchester, the U.S. State Department and the U.K.'s Foreign Office said Thursday.

Mr. Tillerson, who has been accompanying Donald Trump on his first international trip as president, will break off to personally "reaffirm America’s commitment to the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom and our solidarity in defeating terrorism in every part of the world," said Heather Nauert, a State Department spokeswoman.

Mr. Tillerson and U.K. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson will sign a condolence book for victims of the attack and will address reporters, the State Department said. The U.K. Foreign Office said they also will "hold talks on a range of foreign-policy issues."

The U.S. chief diplomat's trip to London follows a call by Mr. Trump on Thursday for an investigation into who in his administration disclosed sensitive U.K. information about the suicide bombing. Mr. Trump called the leaks "A grave threat to our national security," and promised to prosecute anyone responsible.
--Felicia Schwartz

Queen Visits Injured in Manchester Children's Hospital

Queen Elizabeth II visits the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital to meet victims of the terror attack in the city earlier this week and to thank members of staff who treated them, May 25.Zuma Press

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'Arrests Are Significant', Police Chief Says

The top police officer in Greater Manchester says that the arrests of eight people who are in custody in relation to the attack inquiry are "significant" and items found in searches were "very important" to the investigation.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins told reporters eight people remain in custody and a female has been released without charge.

"The arrests that we have made are significant," Mr. Hopkins said. "Initial searches of premises have revealed items we believe are very important to the investigation."

Such searches will take several days to complete, the police chief added. "It's important that we continue these searches and do them very very thoroughly," he said.

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British Prime Minister Theresa May said she will raise the issue of leaked intelligence information with U.S President Donald Trump when she sees him at the NATO summit today in Brussels.

"I will be making clear to President Trump that intelligence that is shared between our law enforcement agencies must remain secure," Mrs. May said in a televised statement.

Her comments come after U.K. authorities condemned a series of leaks to the U.S. media of sensitive intelligence related to the Manchester bombing investigation.

The prime minister said the threat level in the U.K. would remain at "critical" the highest possible, as the inquiry into a network surrounding suspected bomber Salman Abedi continues.

Prime Minister Theresa May walks with Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Ian Hopkins following their meeting at the police force's headquarters in Manchester, northwest England on May 23.Getty Images

Key Developments

Army Bomb Disposal Experts Deployed in Manchester

Police said the army bomb disposal unit had been sent to an address in Hulme in Manchester. They corrected an earlier statement that said the army had been sent to a college in Trafford.
They were responding to a suspicious package, which was later deemed safe.

EOD stands for explosive ordinance disposal, in other words a bomb disposal team is on the scene in Linby Street in Hulme, according to Greater Manchester police.

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British Police Chiefs, Politicians Condemn Leaks to U.S. Media

Pictures of the scene of the attack, apparently showing parts of the bomber's backpack, published by the New York Times have caused serious upset among U.K. law enforcement and politicians.

In response to the pictures, a national counter terrorism policing spokesperson said in a statement: “We greatly value the important relationships we have with our trusted intelligence, law enforcement and security partners around the world. These relationships enable us to collaborate and share privileged and sensitive information that allows us to defeat terrorism and protect the public at home and abroad.

"When that trust is breached it undermines these relationships, and undermines our investigations and the confidence of victims, witnesses and their families. This damage is even greater when it involves unauthorised disclosure of potential evidence in the middle of a major counter terrorism investigation."

A collaboration of UK police forces, security and intelligence agencies also tweeted their objections.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd told the British Broadcasting Corp. yesterday that earlier leaks of information, including the name of the bomber to the U.S. media before the British police had released it, were "irritating."

"The British police have been very clear they want to control the flow of information in order to protect operational integrity - the element of surprise - so it is irritating if it gets released from other sources, and I've been very clear with our friends that that should not happen again," Ms. Rudd said.

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, tweeted his displeasure about the leaks.

Joanna Sugden

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Abedi's Sister Says 'He Wanted Revenge'

Abedi’s sister, Jomana Abedi, told The Wall Street Journal her brother was kind and loving and that she was surprised by what he did this week. She said she thought he was driven by what he saw as injustices.

“I think he saw children—Muslim children—dying everywhere, and wanted revenge. He saw the explosives America drops on children in Syria, and he wanted revenge,” she said. “Whether he got that is between him and God.”